Hollow air cleaning rolls



March 1, 1966 c, w AUR|H 3,237,249

HOLLOW AIR CLEANING ROLLS Filed Dec. 5, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 1, 1966 c. w. AURlcH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,237,249 HOLLOW AIR CLEANING ROLLS Christoph W. Aurich, Clemson, S.C., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Maremont Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Dec. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 328,275 17 Claims. (Cl. 19-245) This application is a continuation-in-part of a prior copending application Serial No. 158,783, filed December 12, 1961, now abandoned.

This invention relates to textile machinery and more particularly to the automatic air cleaning thereof by utilizing processing rolls and other elements such as those of drafting mechanisms to distribute continuous and intermittent air streams for maintaining such machinery free of deposits of lint and fly.

It has long been known that lint and fly cannot be allowed to accumulate on textile machinery, particularly on the drafting elements thereof, since, if it does, lumps or bunches thereof will enter the yarn or sliver and lower the quality thereof to a substantial degree. Because of this, a variety of cleaning devices, such as flat or rotating clearers, for example, have been used to keep drafting elements free from accumulations of lint and fly. Although these devices are in general quite effective for cleaning of the drafting rolls themselves, they leave a great deal to be desired when endless looped aprons are employed as fiber control elements in conjunction with pairs of drafting rolls, as they are not effective in preventing accumulations of lint and fly particularly on the interior surfaces of such aprons. Too, when fluted rolls are used, as is the case with the lower holding and delivery rolls of drafting elements, for example, as well as elsewhere, conventional clearers are unable to prevent deleterious accumulations of lint and fly in the valleys thereof and the eventual entry thereof into the assembly of textile fibers being processed. Other examples of cleaning problems will occur to those skilled in the textile art.

Accordingly it is a major object of the present invention to provide novel means for preventing the accumulation of lint and fly on textile machinery by utilizing the rotating processing rolls or other elements of the machinery itself for distributing continuous and intermittent air streams for cleaning. Thus air passages may be provided therein, extending therea'long, with openings communicating therethrough, together with means such as a blower to cause movement of air through the openings to dislodge lint and fly from surfaces adjacent to said openings and so prevent its accumulation on such surfaces. With drafting mechanisms, then, for example those having pairs of holding and delivery drafting rolls with a fiber control mechanism therebetween, the lower drafting rolls, which extend for the length of the machine frame, may have central air passages supplied with air from a suitable blower mounted at the end of the frame, the rolls having randomly spaced openings provided therethrough adjacent but axially spaced from the fiber-contacting portions of the drafting elements to be kept clean. With such a roll suitably pressurized by a blower, intermittent blasts of air are directed at adjacent drafting elements for highly effective cleaning action. With a fiber control mechanism having an air impermeable apron, the lower apron supporting drive roll will operate in a like manner, and the apron bar itself is as well preferably provided with pressurized air fed through a central passage through openings to aid the apron roll in preventing accumulation of lint and fly on the interior of the apron. If desired, suction tubes may be provided to remove the dislodged fly and lint.

Further features, advantages and objects of this inven- 3,237,249 Patented Mar. 1, 1966 tion will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a specific preferred embodiment thereof together with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, in section, along the line 11 of FIG. 2 of the drafting elements of a standard textile machine showing one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of FIG. 1 taken along the lines 2-2 thereof;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation in section of a modification of one element of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevation of the element shown in FIG. 3 and of its associated mechanisms; and

FIG. 5 is a partial fragmentary, isometric view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 is shown a specific preferred embodiment of this invention. It will be noted that the drafting mechanims shown in FIG. 1 includes a pair of front or delivery drafting rolls, an intermediate rotary fiber control mechanism for feeding and controlling a strand of discontinuous fibers such as cotton roving or sliver, and behind the rotary fiber control mechanism, a pair of rear or holding drafting rolls. The rotary fiber control mechanism itself includes a lower unit having an endless looped underlying airimpermeab'le sliver supporting apron 26 and within the loop of the apron an apron bar 28 and a lower apron supporting drive roll 18. The fiber control mechanism also has an upper unit comprising overlying sliver control means having an upper apron 27 and an upper apron roll 19 within its loop. The lower rolls, the delivery roll 10, the holding roll 34, and the lower apron drive roll 18, extend the entire length of the machine frame. The upper rolls, the delivery roll 11, the holding roll 35, and the upper apron roll 19, are short rolls of the type commonly used in textile machinery.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention the lower drafting rolls 10, 341 have spaced fluted fiber-contacting processing surfaces 12, 36, and, generally, smooth intermediate portions therebetween, and the upper rolls have correspondingly spaced fiber-contacting cots 13, 37. The cots 13, 37 of the upper holding and delivery rolls 11, 35 contact the fluted surfaces 12, 36 of the corresponding lower rolls 10, 34. The lower apron drive roll 18 has spaced similar fluted apron contacting portions 20 thereof underlying spaced knurled apron driving surfaces 21 of the upper apron roll 19. In general, then, the drafting mechanism comprises two banks of elements, each bank having a plurality of rotatable processing rolls.

To accomplish the purposes of this invention the lower rolls and the lower apron bar are provided with centrally positioned air passages 16, 32, 40 extending along the entire length thereof. Randomly positioned openings 14, 22, 30, 38 are provided, in each of said lower elements 10, 18, 28, 34, which communicate with the air passages. Because it is important that the sliver being processed not be subjected directly to the turbulent streams of air contemplated, the openings 14, 38 in the lower drafting rolls 1t], 34 are provided only on the portions thereof intermediate and axially spaced from the fiber-contacting surfaces, the fiber-contacting surfaces of the lower drafting rolls being free of such openings. Likewise, because the openings 22, 30 of the lower apron bar 28 and of the lower apron drive roll 18 may be positioned anywhere along the entire length thereof, and at least some of said openings 22, 30 preferably being positioned within the loop of said apron 26, as in FIG. 5, for cleaning the interior thereof, air impermeable apron 26 is used to shield the sliver from the direct effects of the air turbulence contemplated.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention, one or more suction tubes 42, which may be rotatable, as in FIGS. 3 and 4, or not, as desired, are provided adjacent the lower rolls to collect and dispose of such lint and fly as is dislodged by the operation of the lower elements. In the preferred embodiment the tube having an axially extending central air passage 46 is positioned adjacent the lower delivery roll 10. Preferably the openings 44 of the suction tube are aligned with and generally directed toward the fiber-contacting surfaces of the lower delivery roll 10.

Blower means 50 are also provided, which may comprise any standard air blower or pump, adapted to pressurize the air passages of the lower rolls and the apron bar and thus to force air outwardly through the random openings thereof. To connect the air supply to the lower rolls suitable air passages 52 are provided in the machine frame 54. A pipe or other connection 53 leads from the blower to said air passage 52. The lower rolls are mounted on bearing means 48, which also function as air seals, at the frame and at the air passage thereof thus providing a direct connection with the air supply. The apron bar being stationary, no special connection is necessary and a pipe 55 leading from the blower is directly connected to the apron bar as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5.

Blower means 51 are also provided, adapted to exhaust air from the suction tube and thus to draw air inwardly through the openings of the tube. Since the tube is ordinarily stationary, a pipe 49 establishing a direct connection to the blower as in FIGS. 2 and 5 is provided, similar to that of the apron bar. If the tube is rotatable, as in FIGS. 3 and 4, however, it may be mounted as are the lower rolls 10, 18, 34 on bearing means 56 which also functions as an air seal. In practice the same blower means 50 may be connected via pipe 49 to both the lower rolls and the suction tube as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2 with a filter 60 suitably interposed therebetween to prevent lint and fly from being recirculated through the system. In this latter instance the pipe 49 leading from the suction tube is connected to the suction side of the blower 50, the pipe 53 leading to the rolls and apron bar is connected to the pressure side of the blower 50, and blower 51 is eliminated.

In operation, a sliver to be drafted passes between the fiber contacting surfaces 36, 37 of the holding rolls 34, 35 the upper and lower aprons 26, 27 of the intermediate rotary fiber control mechanism, and the fiber-contacting surfaces 12, 13 of the delivery rolls 10, 11. Simultaneously the blowers 50, 51 are continuously operated to pressurize the lower elements It 18, 28, 34 and to evacuate the suction tube 42. As the processing of the sliver continues, lint and fly therefrom tend to be deposited on the exposed surfaces of the drafting rolls 1!), 11, 34, 35 and the aprons 26, 27 as well as on the interior surface of the lower apron 26 and the fluted portion 20 of the lower apron drive roll 18 but the streams of air from the lower elements immediately dislodges such lint and fly into the surrounding atmosphere. Thus, the rotating lower rolls 10, 18, 34 have a continuous flow of air therethrough which as it leaves through the constantly moving openings 14, 22, 38 thereof directs intermittent blasts of air at adjacent portions of the drafting frame. The blasts of air hitting the drafting frame are deflected to other adjacent portions of the frame in effect bathing the entire frame and all of its operating elements in a continuous stream of moving air to remove any lint and fly tending to accumulate thereon. Additionally, the apron bar 28 directs a continuous stream of air at the interior lower apron 26 and at the lower apron drive roll 18 thus cleaning and maintaining the operating efliciency of the lower unit of the rotary fiber control mechanism. The suction tube 42 continuously withdraws the dislodged lint and fly from the surrounding atmosphere returning it to blower 51 where it may be trapped in a filter or otherwise disposed of, thus preventing the creation of an undesirable saturation of the air with the dislodged lint and fly.

The apparatus thus described is highly efficient despite its readily apparent simplicity. It effectively solves the problem of removing lint and fly from the fluted portions of processing rolls and from the interior and exterior portions of apron devices.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that many adaptations and modifications of this invention may be made without depaiting from the true spirit and scope thereof and that therefore the description of a specific preferred embodiment thereof is in no way intended to limit the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is: 1. In textile processing machinery having processing rolls: at least one rotatable, processing roll having a central air passage extending therealong and fiber-contacting fluted portions and smooth portions intermittently disposed on the circumferential surface of said roll;

said smooth portions only having randomly disposed about the circumferential surface thereof, openings communicating therethrough to said passage; and

means connected to said passage effective for supplying air thereto for movement through said openings to dislodge lint and fly from said machinery.

2. The apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein a hollow suction tube, having like openings directed generally toward said roll, is positioned adjacent said roll, and wherein means are provided connected to said tube effective to exhaust air from said hollow portion thereof said tube thus being adapted to collect from the atmosphere said lint and fly dislodged by said air passing through said processing roll.

3. The apparatus claimed in claim 2 wherein the openings of said tube are aligned with said fiber-contacting fluted portions of said roll.

4. The apparatus claimed in claim 3 wherein said tube is rotatable and wherein said openings are positioned about the circumferential surface thereof.

5. A textile drafting frame having a plurality of drafting elements comprising pairs of upper and lower rolls, said lower rolls extending the length of said frame and having a plurality of fiber-contacting surface portions axially spaced from one another, and having intermediate surface portions, each of said lower rolls having a central air passage extending therealong and a plurality of openings communicating with said passage located solely in said intermediate surface portions axially spaced from said fiber-contacting surface portions, and

means connected to said passages for supplying air thereto for movement outwardly through said openings to dislodge lint and fly from said drafting elements.

6. A textile drafting frame having a plurality of drafting elements comprising a pair of upper and lower delivery drafting rolls at the forward end, a pair of upper and lower holding drafting rolls at its opposite end, and a rotary fiber control mechanism therebetween including an air impermeable apron, a lower apron drive roll and an apron bar,

said lower drafting rolls having a plurality of fibercontacting surface portions axially spaced from one another and having intermediate surface portions adjacent to and axially spaced from said fiber contacting surface portions, said lower drafting rolls each having a central air passage extending therealong and a plurality of openings therethrough communicating with said passage located solely in said intermediate surface portions axially spaced from said fiber-contacting surface portions and said lower apron drive roll and said apron bar each having a central air passage extending therealong and a plurality of openings therethrough, and

means connected to said passages for supplying air thereto for movement outwardly through said openings to dislodge lint and fly from said drafting elements.

7. A textile frame as claimed in claim 6 wherein at least a portion of the openings in said apron drive roll and said apron bar are located within the loop of said apron.

8. A textile drafting frame having a plurality of drafting elements arranged therealong comprising a pair of upper and lower delivery drafting rolls at the forward end, a pair of upper and lower holding drafting rolls at its opposite end, and a rotary fiber control mechanism therebetween including an endless looped underlying sliver supporting air impermeable apron with overlying sliver control means and within the loop of said apron a lower apron drive roll and an apron bar,

said lower drafting rolls having axially spaced fluted fiber-contacting surface portions on the circumferential surfaces thereof,

said lower rolls and said apron bar extending the length of said frame and each having a central air passage extending therealong and a plurality of openings therethrough, with said openings through said lower drafting rolls being positioned adjacent to but axially spaced from said fluted surfaces, and with said openings through said lower apron drive roll and said apron bar being located at least in part within the loop of said apron,

means connected to said lower rolls and said apron bar for supplying air to said central passages for movement outwardly through said openings to dislodge lint and fly from said drafting mechanisms,

a suction tube adjacent said lower rolls having a like air passage and like openings aligned with said fluted fiber-contacting, and

means connected to said tube effective for removing air from the passage of said tube thus to cause air carrying said dislodged fly and lint to enter said tube, thus to dispose of said lint and fly.

9. Textile fiber processing apparatus including a rotatable processing element having a circumferential surface at least one portion of which comprises a fiber contacting portion thereof, said element having a central air passage extending therealong with a plurality of spaced openings communicating with said passage about said circumferential surface thereof only in positoins spaced along the axis of rotation of said element away from said fibercontacting portion thereof and means connected to said passage effective for supplying air thereto for movement outwardly through said openings to dislodge lint and fly from said apparatus.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said rotatable element is a roll.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 having a pair of rolls between which textile fibers are passed wherein said roll comprising said rotatable element is one of said rolls in said pair.

12. A textile drafting frame having a plurality of drafting elements arranged therealong comprising a pair of upper and lower delivery drafting roll elements at the forward end, a pair of upper and lower delivery holding roll elements at its opposite end, and a rotary fiber control mechanism therebetween including an endless looped underlying, sliver supporting, air impermeable apron with 6 overlying sliver control means and within the loop of said apron a lower apron drive roll element and a lower apron bar element,

said lower drafting roll element having axially spaced fiber-contacting surface portions on the circumferential surfaces thereof,

said lower elements each extending the length of said frame and each having a central air passage extending therealong and a plurality of openings therethrough communicating with said passage, with said openings through said lower drafting roll elements to said passage only being positioned adjacent to but axially spaced from said fiber-contacting surface portions,

means connected to at least one of said lower elements for supplying air to said central passage thereof for movement outwardly through said openings to dislodge lint and fly from said drafting elements.

13. The drafting frame claimed in claim 12 wherein each of said lower roll elements is connected to said means for supplying air tosaid central passage thereof.

14. In textile processing machinery: a rotary fiber control mechanism including an endless looped underlying sliver supporting, air impermeable apron with overlying sliver control means and within the loop of said apron, an apron drive roll and an apron bar element,

at least one of said drive roll and said bar element having a central air passage extending therealong with a plurality of spaced openings on the surface thereof communicating with said passage,

at least some of said openings being positioned within the loop of said apron, and

means connected to the passage of at least one of said drive roll and said bar element effective for supplying air thereto for movement outwardly through said openings to dislodge lint and fly from said machinery.

15. The apparatus claimed in claim 14 wherein both said drive rolls and said bar element have said central air passages and said openings and wherein said means for supplying air thereto is connected to the central air passage of at least one of them.

16. Textile fiber processing apparatus including a rotatable processing element having a circumferential surface at least one portion of which comprises a fiber contacting portion thereof, said element having a plurality of spaced openings about said circumferential surface which are axially spaced from said fiber contacting portion, a central air passage extending along said element communicating with said openings, and means connected to said passage effective for supplying air thereto for movement outwardly through said openings to dislodge lint and fly from said apparatus.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said rotatable element is a roll.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,672,723 3/1954 Bechtler 19-263 X 2,814,176 11/1957 Bowie 5756 3,122,794 3/1964 Klein 19-288 DONALD W. PARKER, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN TEXTILE PROCESSING MACHINERY HAVING PROCESSING ROLLS; AT LEAST ONE ROTATABLE, PROCESSING ROLL HAVING A CENTRAL AIR PASSAGE EXTENDING THEREALONG AND FIBER-CONTACTING FLUTED PORTIONS AND SMOOTH PORTIONS INTERMITTENTLY DISPOSED ON THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL SURFACE OF SAID ROLL; SAID SMOOTH PORTIONS ONLY HAVING RANDOMLY DISPOSED ABOUT THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL SURFACE THEREOF, OPENINGS COMMUNICATING THERETHROUGH TO SAID PASSAGE; AND MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID PASSAGE EFFECTIVE FOR SUPPLYING AIR THERETO FOR MOVEMENT THROUGH SAID OPENINGS TO DISLODGE LINT AND FLY FROM SAID MACHINERY. 